People who visit La Union sometimes don’t just go on vacation; some do it as a “workcation” and they try to finish some deadlines and get into virtual meetings while in the province. If you’re planning to do the same on your next trip to La Union, or you just want to visit a cafe with great coffee, food, and vibes, we’d recommend that you check out Silaw Cafe.
Silaw Cafe is tucked inside a commercial building in Bauang, La Union which is a couple of towns south of San Juan. But even if it’s a 30-minute drive away from the Surfing Capital of the North, the beach vibe remains with the aesthetic of the cafe.
A vibrant cafe with sunny “Elyu” beach vibes
We love the vibrant space of Silaw Cafe. The owner shares with WhenInManila.com that the cafe’s interiors featured elements inspired by products of La Union. The ceiling is filled with hanging basket lamps, there are inabel fabric pillowcases on some seats, there are bamboo accents everywhere, and the floor is inspired by red clay which can usually be found in La Union.
There’s even a cool IG-worthy nook in one corner with a neon light sign and a comfy bamboo swing where you can take pictures or just lounge around.
This cafe in La Union also has plenty of sockets and fast WiFi. The owners shared that they wanted Silaw Cafe to be a place where people could work or study comfortably.
You also won’t have to worry about leaving your pets at home because Silaw Cafe is pet-friendly! You might even get to see the resident dog, Chupi.
(RELATED: 13 Private Villas and Airbnbs in La Union for That Beach Life Experience)
Must-try coffee in La Union
Along with these cool features, Silaw Cafe offers a wide range of great coffee drinks and amazing food.
For the drinks, my personal favorite was their Spanish Latte with Oat Milk (PHP 200) and their hot chocolate with marshmallows (PHP 200) which they named “Taylor’s Version: Debut Album”.
They also have refreshing fruit smoothies and delicious frappes with flavors such as Biscoff (PHP 220) and Ferrero (PHP 220)! There are great selections for people who have a sweet tooth like me.
Delicious comfort food with Iloko dishes
As for their food menu, they have an extensive selection of comfort food, sandwiches, burgers, pasta, and rice meals.
We started off our feast with flavorful Chicken Poppers (PHP 269), savory Calamari Strips (PHP 179) (my favorite!), and super loaded Nachos (PHP 269) that you can share with the group.
Their Longga Burger (PHP 209) is a flavorful delight with its delicious longganisa patty, special sauce, veggies, and soft buns. It’s also served with potato chips for the full meal.
If you want just a snack to partner with your coffee, you can try their Clubhouse Sandwich (PHP 249) which is also served with crispy potato chips.
They also have amazing pasta choices on the menu. We tried the Seafood Marinara (PHP 259) which was full of flavor and had lots of seafood, including mussels, shrimp, and squid. The Tomato Basil Pasta (PHP 199) was also quite surprisingly good; it caught me by surprise since I didn’t think that a tomato basil sauce would be packed with so much flavor! I truly couldn’t get enough of these two pasta choices.
Of course, this La Union cafe also has a lot of rice meals to enjoy. There’s the Lechong Kawali with Dinardaraan Sauce (PHP 319) and the Old Fashioned Chicken (PHP 299) rice meal—both are served with a side of salad.
One rice meal that truly deserves the highlight is the Iloko Breakfast (PHP 449) which is a hearty breakfast meal that features some of the best delicacies of the Ilocos Region. This breakfast platter includes Dagupan’s fried bangus, Mangaldan’s beef tapa, Alaminos’ longganisa, Sukang Iloko, and a hearty serving of turmeric rice. It’s good for sharing, but if you’ve got a big appetite then you can also enjoy it solo.
If you’re craving a sweet treat after your gastronomic meal, Silaw Cafe also has a variety of freshly baked cookies to enjoy. My personal favorite was their Biscoff Cookie.
More than just a great cafe
Silaw Cafe is more than just a place for you to enjoy a great meal and amazing coffee. Their space offers a sanctuary for remote workers and students, a place for your fur babies to play, and there’s even a retail space where you can purchase from other local brands started by members of the cafe owners’ family. They also provide fun board games to play in the cafe for an even more unforgettable experience.
Silaw Cafe is such an underrated gem of a cafe in La Union, and it’s worth the visit on your next trip to Elyu!
Silaw Cafe
2/F Resjam Twin Building, Quinavite, Bauang, La Union
Facebook: Silaw Cafe
instagram.com/silaw_cafe
tiktok.com/@silawcafe
Do you have a story for the WhenInManila.com Team? Email me at vivien.wheninmanila@gmail.com or send us a direct message at WhenInManila.com Facebook Page. Join our Viber group to be updated with the latest news!
